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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:36:35 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 6:36:35 GMT -6
This is a "ghost" calf with winter ticks so bad it rubbed off most of its fur. Here's a healthy calf. This yearling had brain worm disease and was put down by the local CO. It was stumbling and eventually fell and couldn't get up.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:43:59 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 6:43:59 GMT -6
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:46:56 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 6:46:56 GMT -6
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:49:58 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 6:49:58 GMT -6
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 6:53:24 GMT -6
I was deer deer hunting and came across this calf. There was a bull and her mom further on up the ridge. They were doing their thing. The calf followed me for 200 yards. A very young calf A few months later
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:54:23 GMT -6
Post by Freeborn on Feb 2, 2017 6:54:23 GMT -6
Nice Photo's,
What are the local wildlife officials saying about the health of the Moose herd? Any comments about what is driving the tick and worm issues or if it has been around forever?
Minnesota's moose herd has declined significantly in recent years with much of the blame going to increased ticks caused by increased temperatures (global warming/climate change). I'm not a scientist but the decline parallels a very large increase in the wolf population.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 6:55:41 GMT -6
Post by Catscratch on Feb 2, 2017 6:55:41 GMT -6
So cool. I spent a couple of weeks in Main (absolutely beautiful country) a couple of decades ago and really wanted to see a moose. Unfortunately it didn't happen. Your pics make me want to see one even more.
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Post by kl9 on Feb 2, 2017 7:09:06 GMT -6
Awesome pics
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 7:40:30 GMT -6
Post by terrifictom on Feb 2, 2017 7:40:30 GMT -6
Love the moose pics.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 11:35:59 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 11:35:59 GMT -6
Nice Photo's, What are the local wildlife officials saying about the health of the Moose herd? Any comments about what is driving the tick and worm issues or if it has been around forever? Minnesota's moose herd has declined significantly in recent years with much of the blame going to increased ticks caused by increased temperatures (global warming/climate change). I'm not a scientist but the decline parallels a very large increase in the wolf population. We don't have any wolves and our moose population has plummeted over the past 5-6 years. I haven't seen many on our property the past 2 years. I used to be able to take a hike in the mountains and see 5-10 per trip. My brother drew a cow tag 2 years ago. We put on 60 miles deep in the woods that week and never got a shot at a cow. 4 nice bulls, a cow and calve 10 minutes after legal shooting and one unknown. Really tough hunting. 10 years ago it would've been easy. I'm blaming the decline on the winter ticks and more bear. As the population bottoms out the winter ticks will drop as well. Hopefully they'll come back sooner than later. Our state gave out 800+ permits 10 years ago. Around 70 last year. Only 5 in my zone. They logged an abutting property last year and the cows have moved off our land over there. I'm ok with that.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 14:59:19 GMT -6
Post by Freeborn on Feb 2, 2017 14:59:19 GMT -6
We don't have any wolves and our moose population has plummeted over the past 5-6 years. I haven't seen many on our property the past 2 years. I used to be able to take a hike in the mountains and see 5-10 per trip. My brother drew a cow tag 2 years ago. We put on 60 miles deep in the woods that week and never got a shot at a cow. 4 nice bulls, a cow and calve 10 minutes after legal shooting and one unknown. Really tough hunting. 10 years ago it would've been easy. I'm blaming the decline on the winter ticks and more bear. As the population bottoms out the winter ticks will drop as well. Hopefully they'll come back sooner than later. Our state gave out 800+ permits 10 years ago. Around 70 last year. Only 5 in my zone. They logged an abutting property last year and the cows have moved off our land over there. I'm ok with that. Hard to believe a tick could kill and animal of that size but seeing your photo of the calf tells me it must drive them nuts. Maybe this is all part of the natural fluctuation of animal populations? It seems many animals (grouse, rabbits) have a boom and bust cycle. The cycle could just be longer for larger animals.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 14:59:45 GMT -6
Post by Freeborn on Feb 2, 2017 14:59:45 GMT -6
We don't have any wolves and our moose population has plummeted over the past 5-6 years. I haven't seen many on our property the past 2 years. I used to be able to take a hike in the mountains and see 5-10 per trip. My brother drew a cow tag 2 years ago. We put on 60 miles deep in the woods that week and never got a shot at a cow. 4 nice bulls, a cow and calve 10 minutes after legal shooting and one unknown. Really tough hunting. 10 years ago it would've been easy. I'm blaming the decline on the winter ticks and more bear. As the population bottoms out the winter ticks will drop as well. Hopefully they'll come back sooner than later. Our state gave out 800+ permits 10 years ago. Around 70 last year. Only 5 in my zone. They logged an abutting property last year and the cows have moved off our land over there. I'm ok with that. Hard to believe a tick could kill and animal of that size but seeing your photo of the calf tells me it must drive them nuts. Maybe this is all part of the natural fluctuation of animal populations? It seems many animals (grouse, rabbits) have a boom and bust cycle. The cycle could just be longer for larger animals.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 15:00:06 GMT -6
Post by Freeborn on Feb 2, 2017 15:00:06 GMT -6
Hard to believe a tick could kill and animal of that size but seeing your photo of the calf tells me it must drive them nuts. Maybe this is all part of the natural fluctuation of animal populations? It seems many animals (grouse, rabbits) have a boom and bust cycle. The cycle could just be longer for larger animals.
Sorry about the multiple posts, I'm not certain what happen with my quote.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 17:31:35 GMT -6
Post by Tooln on Feb 2, 2017 17:31:35 GMT -6
Great pictures.
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Moose
Feb 2, 2017 21:08:33 GMT -6
Post by nhmountains on Feb 2, 2017 21:08:33 GMT -6
Hard to believe a tick could kill and animal of that size but seeing your photo of the calf tells me it must drive them nuts. Maybe this is all part of the natural fluctuation of animal populations? It seems many animals (grouse, rabbits) have a boom and bust cycle. The cycle could just be longer for larger animals.
Sorry about the multiple posts, I'm not certain what happen with my quote.
It's not a few ticks. It's 50,000 +. I've heard of adults with 100,000. They stack themselves in big globs. Moose aren't adapted to groom like a cat , dog, or even deer do. They will itch and rub. Between the loss of fur from itching and the blood loss from the ticks it kills the calves. I've come across several bloody beds in the snow. It's not a fun sight. About as bad as seeing a dead deer torn apart by coyotes. lhttp://yjdst3t2ce610lp8n38ginr6.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Metabolic.Impcts.Musante.et_.al_.2007.pdf
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